5 Things Old Lagosians Remember About Christmas

The Christmas period brings celebration and also invokes memories. While younger people carve out their own form of celebration that resonates with the modern times, older people who grew up in Lagos recall their own experience and how they enjoyed Christmas.
Times are changing fast as social and technological influences have affected a lot of things in Lagos. While there is a lot of excitement in the air and people who grew up in Lagos remember Christmas celebration during their own young years in a different way.
Here are some things people who grew up in Lagos remember about Christmas.

1. Bar Beach

Lagos bar beach

Bar Beach used to be the choice location of Lagosians during the Christmas period. The site usually recorded a high number of visitors as Lagosians made the beach synonymous with Christmas. Small businesses sprung up in the area to cater for the needs of people who had come to spend time with members of their family there. Nowadays, the trend seems to have changed as people consider pools as substitutes to the sand and water experience.

2. House To House Visit

People who grew up in Lagos know that Christmas in those days was not complete without a house to house visit. It was a period to catch up on friends and families. Christmas affords the time to see that aunt one has not visited in a while and listen to her comment on how tall and big one had grown. It is very likely that a small gift would be available for collection at the end of the visit.

3. Distributing Food

Lagos provides a society where people make new families outside their traditional families. People who grew up in Lagos enjoyed the tradition of distributing food to friends and families. Children were always eager to take food to neighbours because it was certain that that they would get new notes in return and which child doesn’t cherish mint notes? Nowadays, children are reluctant about taking food to neighbours and friends because there is no certainty that any monetary incentive would come out of it. Those days however, it was almost certain that one’s pocket would be filed with money, a testament of how many places one distributed food to.

4. Firecrackers

firecracker

 In this festive period, it is not uncommon to hear the continuous explosion of firecrackers as part of the celebration. In those days however in Lagos, a certain type of firecracker or banger was more common and it was called Bisco. This particular firecracker was a small type with a short fuse that went off as soon as the fuse came in contact with fire. It is almost impossible to hold with the hand due to the danger of having one’s palm torn. This brand produced a single explosion and there was the thrill of putting the cheap firecracker into a container and light it to produce a louder explosion. Now the new bangers still take a second or two to explode so one can afford to hold the stick for a few seconds.

5. Santa Claus

Santa Claus

 

 Santa Claus has become a popular figure and synonymous with Christmas globally. In Lagos, the figure is still being replicated every Christmas but the reception is different. People who grew up in Lagos remember that Santa was a figure viewed with fear and excitement. Children anticipated his arrival in schools and parks but his presence elicited fear. Children were tentative about getting close and some wouldn’t even dare. Now, the figure seems to have been demystified and few children show any apprehension at the sight of Santa Claus.